Sensopore
Bringing the lab to the sample
Introduction
Portable DNA detection of disease markers for prostate cancer, viruses, and bacteria, using a disposable test strip. Our solution offers rapid results at the point of use, eliminating the need for cold chains or specialized laboratories.
Problem
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, and early detection is crucial for better outcomes. Screening uses the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, where a high value triggers a biopsy procedure. However, PSA levels can rise due to aging, exercise, or benign conditions, causing a high rate of false positives. Thus, subjecting many men to invasive and unnecessary biopsies.
Combining PSA screening with urine-based genetic markers like PCA3 can reduce false positives and the need for unnecessary biopsies. However, PCA3 is inherently unstable and begins to degrade shortly after sample collection, creating logistical problems: either patients must visit specialized labs that can instantly process samples, or clinics must keep the cold chain for transportation, which is costly and impractical in most healthcare settings. Consequently, many healthcare providers have not adopted genetic markers-based testing at scale, and patients continue to face unnecessary biopsies
Opportunity
Our proposed solution is bringing the lab to the sample in a portable format to detect urine-based genetic markers at source and before sample degradation. By combining nanomaterials and CRISPR proteins in a disposable test strip, we enable rapid, highly sensitive detection of these genetic biomarkers. With this approach, we will address the current logistical and clinical challenges associated with transporting urine samples to specialized labs or maintaining expensive frozen transport chains.
Our nucleic acid detection platform provides flexibility for target identification and scalability for sensor fabrication. Because target-specific detection is governed by the CRISPR proteins rather than the test strip itself, our device can be rapidly adapted to detect a variety of targets. Whether identifying PCA3 for prostate cancer or screening for influenza viruses, E. coli bacteria, or other pathogens, our core platform remains the same, requiring only a tailored genetic guide to accommodate new applications.